New discoveries about Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis are creating waves in the field of AIDS epidemic and bioterrorism. It has been found that severe Toxoplasmosis — normally associated with medical advice for pregnant women to avoid changing cat litter - can worsen the already existing and rising AIDS epidemic and klead to bioterrorism!
According to the researchers, severe toxoplasmosis can take AIDS patients to a state of deep dementia! It can also lead them to become unconscious of their surroundings!
A disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii -
* Toxoplasmosis symptoms usually appear only in people with weakened immune systems.
* But, though rarely, healthy people at times too suffer serious eye and central nervous system problems from toxoplasmosis.
* The babies of such patients suffer from birth defects.
Toxoplasmosis may also be linked to some cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disease.
* Further more, the parasite can kill livestock because it is a common — yet complex — potential weapon for bio-terrorists!
Montana State University researchers’ and their collaborators’ these findings about Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis were published recently in three major scientific journals. The advanced online version of Nature has published a paper Dec. 20 on it. The journal Science has also reported on this finding related paper on Dec. 15 and PLoS Pathogens on Oct. 27.
Photo by: Jim Ajioka, University of Cambridge
